A Bronx Parks and Recreation supervisor is at the center of a disturbing civil lawsuit that accuses him of exposing himself and masturbating in front of a temporary worker, according to court papers. The plaintiff says she captured part of a July 2025 encounter on her phone, then stopped reporting to work because she no longer felt safe. The suit, filed June 19 in Bronx Supreme Court, seeks lost wages, emotional distress damages and punitive damages.
Allegations outlined in court filing
According to the lawsuit and as reported by the New York Post, the filing identifies the supervisor as Hairold Suriel Martinez. The complaint alleges that in April 2025 he followed the woman into a park bathroom, where he had his pants down and was masturbating. A second alleged encounter in July 2025 took place in a supply closet, where Martinez is accused of touching the employee’s breasts and masturbating while she recorded part of the interaction on her phone. The filing quotes Martinez as allegedly yelling, “I don't want to f--k you no more.”
Worker background and reporting
The woman, identified in the filing as 36 years old, says she began working through the Park Opportunity Program in October 2025 and was assigned to work in Bronx parks. According to the complaint, she reported the incidents to other supervisors, her POP-appointed career coach and the department’s Office of Equal Opportunity, but says her concerns were brushed off. The lawsuit seeks back pay and emotional distress damages and asks for punitive damages against Martinez, whom the filing says earns roughly $80,000 a year.
Department response and next steps
The Parks Department declined to comment, citing active litigation, and Martinez did not return a request for comment, the Post reports. The civil case, filed June 19 in Bronx Supreme Court, will now move through the court system, where the city could seek to dismiss, attempt to settle or fully litigate the claims. The filing does not reference any criminal charges, and it is not clear from the documents whether law enforcement has opened an investigation.
Legal context and resources
New York City employees have several formal avenues to raise concerns about workplace conduct, including internal agency complaints, civil lawsuits and filings with city bodies that enforce workplace rights. The NYC Commission on Human Rights and related local laws require employers to post information on sexual harassment rights and to explain how workers can file complaints. If a court ultimately finds liability in a civil case, potential remedies can include back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages, depending on the evidence.
The lawsuit has put a spotlight on how temporary park workers are supervised and could renew calls for stronger protections and clearer reporting channels inside NYC Parks. For now, the accusations remain allegations and will be resolved in court if the case continues forward.
